By AbdulRaheem Aodu
Kaduna
The Nigerian handball national team will tomorrow, Tuesday depart Lagos for the 2018 African Nations Cup scheduled for Libreville, Gabon enroute Cotonou and Lome.
Secretary of the Handball Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Haruna Maigidasanma, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday at the end of the federation’s board meeting, said the board also appointed new coaches for the male and female national teams, and approved new dates for the U-12, U-15, U-18 and U-21 national handball championships.
“The board of the Nigeria Handball Federation has released the final list of the players to make the trip to the 2018 Nations Cup holding in Gabon from 17th – 27th January, 2018. The Team Nigeria is expected to depart Nigeria on Tuesday 9th January, 2018 enroute Cotonou and Togo for acclimatization before jetting out to Libreville, Gabon on 14th January, 2018.
“The board also approved the appointment of Rafiu Salami, Bala Mohammed and Shittu Adewumi as coaches for the women senior team, while Obi Fidelis and Emeka Nnamani Joseph are appointed as coaches for the IHF U-20 male team. John Obi and Stella Ndudi are to be in charge of IHF U-20 female team with Musa Mohammed as goalkeeper trainer for both male and the female teams.
According to the former General Manager of Kwara United FC of Ilorin, “the Handball League will henceforth be referred to as Premier League with 12 male teams taking part and 10 female teams which will commence in April, while the Division One League is to start by July.
“The board has approved and scheduled the U-12 and U-15 championship for Lagos in March, with the U-18 and U-21 to hold in Niger state in October. The meeting also fixed the 2nd edition of Governor Samuel Ortom Open Championship in December among other programmes.
“The board also constituted seven standing Commissions to compliment the effort of the Board. The commissions are, Arbitration and Ethics, Youth Development, Competition and Organizing, Marketing and Sponsorship, Coaching and Methods, Medical, Playing and Rules,” Maigidansanma added. Quadri,